About Ryan Hancey

Ryan is a Kesler & Rust shareholder and a trial lawyer. He has established a successful and diverse litigation practice, representing and defending clients in all kinds of business and commercial disputes, contractual disputes, real estate and landlord-tenant litigation, products liability and personal injury matters, and before administrative agencies. In just the past few months, Ryan obtained six-figure jury verdicts in a breach of contract case against a municipality and a breach of franchise agreement case, as well as a $3.4 million verdict in a products liability case in federal court. During the same time frame, Ryan successfully defended clients at trial against a breach of construction contract claim and a $10 million alienation of affections claim.

Ryan has received recognition as one of Utah’s best lawyers, being named one of a handful of “Local Litigation Stars” in both 2013 and 2014 by the well-respected Benchmark Litigation publication. He is admitted to practice law in every state and federal court in Utah, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. Ryan enjoys working out and playing basketball, and he is an avid water skier.

Proven verdicts and settlements

$15,007,508.45 (verdict; on appeal in the Tenth Circuit)Verdict

Madison Jensen, 21, was booked into the Duchesne County Jail in 2016 after her father contacted authorities for help with her heroin addiction and suicidal thoughts. Over four days of withdrawal she could not keep food or water down. She died of severe dehydration. The jury found the county had failed to train its staff or set any protocol for inmate medical problems.

U.S. District Court, District of Utah · 2025Civil RightsRead the full story →
View 1 proven verdict →

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is unique and depends on its own facts.

Practice areas

Bar admissions & credentials

State Bar of Utah

Other attorneys at Kesler & Rust

View firm →

Proven verdicts and settlements from other Salt Lake City firms

Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers
Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers
$52.2 million · $52.2 Million Wrongful Death Verdict for the Family of Slain Polygamist Leader Rulon Allred
Christensen & Jensen, P.C.
Christensen & Jensen, P.C.
$4 million (as modified on appeal; $5 million gross jury award) · Her Children Agreed to Withdraw Life Support Because the Doctors Told Them She Was Terminal. She Was Not, and She Would Probably Have Recovered.
Cutt Kendell & Olson
Cutt Kendell & Olson
$3 million · His Mother Called 911 for Help Getting Him to a Hospital. An Officer Fired Eleven Shots at the Unarmed 13-Year-Old, and Salt Lake City Paid $3 Million.
Dewsnup King Olsen Worel Havas
Dewsnup King Olsen Worel Havas
$16,000,000 default judgment ($4,000,000 compensatory plus $12,000,000 punitive) · She Was 14 When Warren Jeffs Married Her to Her 19-Year-Old Cousin Over Her Objections. Twelve Years After She Sued, a Utah Judge Entered $16 Million Against Him and His Church.
Mortensen & Milne
Mortensen & Milne
$25 million · A Tilt Wand Would Have Cost the Manufacturer Nothing Instead of the Cord. A 3-Year-Old Got Tangled in It, and a Salt Lake Jury Awarded $25 Million.
Ryan Hancey, Personal Injury Lawyer · ProvenVerdicts